Where did the fish go?

[Devon Joel]

I have a small 1/4 an acre pond that had blue gill, sunfish, and bass. There have been fish in that pond for over 50 years. But I haven't caught or seen a bass in 5 years. Last year the blue gill and sunfish where abundant in 2-3 inches. This year I see one every once in a while dart by but when I throw dough balls in the water there isn't a big swarm like here use to. I don't know what's wrong, there is a blue hearing that comes up there sometimes. Does any one have an idea of whats going on?

[Hog Basser]

Could be a lot of things.  I would take this question over to the pond boss forums for a more in-depth analysis.  Those guys know what they're talking about when it comes to pond management.  A pond that small makes it difficult to maintain a bass population.  We have cormorants come through after our baitfish a lot and other birds can do some damage.  Could also have been a fish kill happened from low oxygen in the water or some other issue.  

[Bass newb]

Blue herring decimated my dads Koi pond.

[Fish the Mitt]

Herrings destroyed ours up here in MI. I blame the muskrats too!

[bassh8er]

I think you're talking about a blue "heron".

[stkbassn]

Can you get rid of that bird or is protected?

[Fish the Mitt]

Just now, bassh8er said:

I think you're talking about a blue "heron".

Spelling isn't a requirement of fishing

[Evan K]

All those tiny sunfish seem suspect to me. Egg/fry eaters. My brother in law has a pond that the previous owner stocked like crazy, but you can't buy a bass out of it, and there are thousands of those tiny sunfish in it.

[everythingthatswims]

On 4/18/2016 at 2:22 PM, SemperBass said:

Spelling isn't a requirement of fishing

Well I doubt it's one of these terrorizing the pond

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Blueback_herring_fish_image.jpg/220px-Blueback_herring_fish_image.jpg

 

[avidone1]

Great blue herons are indeed a protected species and rightfully so.

Magnificent birds, deserving of our protection and respect.

Yes, they do eat fish, and I know first hand that they will eat bass, but only in the shallowest of water.

If your pond has any depth they should be okay from herons.   Now cormorants are another matter for another thread.

P.s.  There are multiple reasons for a die off in a small pond.   algae, change in ph, too much fertilizer or pesticide and so on and so on.

don't be too quick to blame a critter who is a natural part of the eco system 

[Fish the Mitt]

16 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

Well I doubt it's one of these terrorizing the pond

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Blueback_herring_fish_image.jpg/220px-Blueback_herring_fish_image.jpg

 

Is it that important for you to point out a spelling mistake? Does it matter to you that much?

[everythingthatswims]

46 minutes ago, SemperBass said:

Is it that important for you to point out a spelling mistake? Does it matter to you that much?

I'm playing with you man. No harm intended. Tight lines!

[Fish the Mitt]

1 hour ago, everythingthatswims said:

I'm playing with you man. No harm intended. Tight lines!

I couldn't tell. I literally thought you bringing the spelling back up again! haha oh man, I apologize. Hadn't drank my coffee yet!